People often ask me, “Jane, why do you focus so much on flowers for the past few years and even on food recently?”
It’s a simple question with a deep answer. As an immigrant, I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what I carried with me from Hong Kong to Canada. We often think of “roots” as something fixed – where we come from, our history, our language. But the older I get, the more I realize that roots aren’t meant to keep us in one place. Roots are meant to draw nourishment so we can grow, and grow together.
Heritage as a Living Language
My identity isn’t defined by a single label – it’s a blend of where I’ve been and where I am. It’s the resilience of my heritage meeting the openness of a new home. Growing up in Hong Kong, a place where East and West coexisted so peacefully, taught me that different cultures don’t have to compete; they can bloom beautifully together.
When I look at my work with Ave Maria Garden, I don’t just see floral arrangement; I see a living language. Each bloom, bold or fragile, textured or smooth is a testament to the diversity of our community. Just like God gives us the Mother Nature with different species to be sustainable and healthy, our society needs the unique, God-given gifts of every individual to thrive.
My faith grounds this vision: I believe we are all stewards of our surroundings. Whether I am teaching a workshop or hosting a community event, my goal is to remind people that they aren’t just “living” in a neighborhood, they are shaping a community.
The Recipe of Life
This philosophy carries over to Recipe of Life, a project that my sister, Lily, who started out in Singapore by sharing her food story. And I tried to use it as a community tool to celebrate diversity and multiculturalism. Cooking is the original community builder. It’s a sensory experience that bypasses politics and language barriers. When we share a recipe, we share a history. We share the ginger, the scallion, the fermented beans, the very flavors of our upbringing.
When I sit down with community members, I’m not just sharing a meal; I’m inviting them to tell their story. When we understand the “why” behind someone’s tradition, we stop seeing them as “other” and start seeing them as family. I recently had the honor of participating in the Beyond Chinese interview series, where I got to sit down with Trixie, the founder of Flavours of Hope. Discussing how we both use our backgrounds to support people in need.
Looking Ahead
Every recipe my sister and I share here reflects a life lesson, an experience we’ve gathered along our own journey. Our mission is simple: to create a space that nourishes more than just the body. We’re building a community where each person can share their wisdom, reflections and build resilience together. Let’s connect, share our stories, and grow together.
Because at the end of the day, each life is a gift. Our work is simply to help others see the beauty in themselves, and to create the space for that beauty to flourish.
Are you looking to build a more connected community, or do you have a story you want to share? I’d love to hear from you. Let’s create something beautiful together.
Stay tuned for my upcoming interview on the Beyond Chinese series, coming soon to Telus Hive.
A huge thank you to Pancouver for this thoughtful conversation and for the incredible work you do in amplifying diverse voices across our community; you can learn more about their important mission at pancouver.ca.
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